French company tries to trademark the word rooibos
South Africa's rooibos industry is seeking to block an attempt by a French company to trademark the words "South African rooibos" and "rooibos" in France. Rooibos tea is made from the leaves of a unique shrub, indigenous only to South Africa. The country's department of trade and industry has raised its objection with the local French Embassy and the European Commission Delegation in a bid to defend South Africa's trade and intellectual property interests abroad. The registration of such a trademark in France could have a significant negative impact on South Africa's exports of rooibos to France, one of the key markets in the European Union.